NFL Rumors: Leon Hall to sign with the New York Giants

By John Buhler | Aug 4, 2016

Nov 29, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall (29) runs back an interception for a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams in the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. Cincinnati defeated St. Louis 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Nine-year veteran NFL cornerback Leon Hall will sign with the New York Giants on Thursday. He had spent his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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According to the NFL Network’s Rand Getlin, long-time NFL cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals Leon Hall will reportedly sign with the New York Giants for the 2016 NFL season.

I'm told CB Leon Hall is expected to sign with the #Giants today.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) August 4, 2016

Hall had spent all previous of his nine NFL seasons with the Bengals, who drafted him with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan. He had been a cornerstone of the Bengals’ secondary for years and had been a key piece in the Bengals’ defense that helped Cincinnati make five straight trips to the AFC Playoffs.

That being said, Hall was not offered a new deal with the Bengals early in the 2016 NFL offseason. The Bengals had essentially replaced him with former Houston Cougars standout William Jackson, III, Cincinnati’s No. 24 overall pick in this past spring’s draft.

Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Jackson tore his pectoral muscle early in NFL training camp and will now likely miss his entire rookie season in the National Football League. Jackson’s devastating injury left the door open for a return to Cincinnati for Hall. He reportedly had his mind made up to either return to the Bengals are start fresh with the NFC East’s New York Giants. Hall ultimately choose the later.

New York already has some interesting players in their secondary including Janoris Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and first-round pick Eli Apple out of Ohio State. The Giants had to win shootouts last fall due to their terrible pass defense. Losing Prince Amukamara to the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason didn’t help either.

While Hall’s playing time will almost certainly be diminished with the 2016 Giants, he’ll bring in a veteran presence to a formerly lackluster secondary in New York. Hall has been part of good defensive back groups for some time with the Bengals. Perhaps he’ll be the leader New York needs to right the ship in the back-end of its defense?

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